Get Nourished with Yoga this winter

Winter is a season of being lazy. We all enjoy this season a lot. The more pleasant the season is, the more dry and fizzy our skin and hair becomes. We use a lot of creams and soaps to make ourselves look beautiful, but as the day passes, the beauty cream loses its effect and our skin again becomes dry. To prevent ourselves from dryness, it is very important to continue drinking the same amount of water, i.e. about 10-12 glasses, each day, even though we don’t feel thirsty most of the time.

Along with water, it is also important to stick to the daily routine of our yoga so that the dryness of the skin and fizziness of the hair does not return as the day ends. There are few Yogas which should never be skipped and should be accompanied with lots of green veggies and fruits.

Padmasana

This posture of sitting is very effective for glowing and flawless skin. Since ages people have used this simple and easiest way of yoga to get a radiant skin. It is very simple, you just need to sit in Siddhasana for at least 10-15 minutes and slowly breath in and breath out, while concentrating on it. Make sure to keep your back straight.

Kapalbhati

In Kapalbhati, sit in sukhasana and forcefully release your breath from the nose with the help of your muscles in the stomach and repeat the process for about 10-15 minutes. The back should be straight and hands on the knees. This is a wonderful pranayama which lets your skin glow with radiance. It energizes you and also detoxifies the skin.

Halasana

This asana rejuvenates your skin from inside and relaxes the mind along with the entire body. It actually tones the full body and relaxes all the nerves which ultimately shows on your face. For this asana, lie down flat on the floor with your arms straight beside your body and palms facing down. While inhaling, lift both the legs with the help of the abdominal muscles and bring it above the head in such a way that the toes touch the ground above your head. Hold this position and concentrate on your breath, for about a minute and slowly bring the leg back to its normal position while exhaling. Make sure to avoid any jerks while coming back to the normal position. This should be repeated for about 4-5 times. This should be avoided during pregnancy and periods. If you have any back problem consult your doctor or yoga trainer before doing this asana.

Dhanurvakrasana

For this asana, lie down on your stomach. Stretch out your legs and put your hands on the side of your body. Then bend both the legs and catch them with your hands. While inhaling, pull your legs with your hands and raise your head upwards as much as you can. Stay in this position for about 15-20 seconds, then come back to the normal position while exhaling. Repeat this for 4-5 times.

Paschimottanasana

Paschimottanasana relaxes your back, neck and legs, and rejuvenates the entire body. Sit with your leg stretched out and back straight. Raise both your hands up, while exhaling, bend forward and hold your toes with your hands, with head touching the knees. Stay in this position for about 8-10 seconds. While inhaling come back to the normal position. Repeat this asana for 4-5 times. You will literally feel happy after doing this asana.

These asanas and pranayamas relax your body as well as mind. They detoxify your skin and helps in keeping the stress away. Although you will feel the difference the first time itself, but it should be done regularly for a longer and better effect.

Say "bye" to the cold in this winter

The winter season brings the chilly air along with few common and irritating diseases, like cold and cough. Yes, it really gets your nerves out and you tend to become stressed for almost nothing. This problem is very common in children. As soon as the winter season arrives, we find our children having a running nose, which again is very stressful, most of us who have children knows what I am talking about. A very simple way of keeping cough and cold away is, mustard oil. This is an age old technique, wherein, while bathing you put a little mustard oil in both of your nostrils and you are almost safe from getting these problems.

Along with that, as always, yoga is the best way of keeping the problems of cough and cold away. This blog is particularly to help you avoid these problems, with the help of pranayama and exercises, so that you can stay safe and happily enjoy this beautiful weather.

Kapalbhati Pranayama

This breathing technique has a cure for a lot of diseases which can be from curing cough and cold to curing shortness of breath (read how to cure shortness of breath here: http://experiencingseconds.blogspot.in/2015/12/yogic-way-of-dealing-with-breathlessness.html). In this breathing technique, you sit in a Sukhasana or Siddhasana , and forcefully relieve the air from the lungs with the help of abdominal muscles. It is done exactly like when you blow your nose. The process should be repeated for about 5 minutes initially, then increased. It is very good for curing sinuses as well. Remember that if you are pregnant or going through menopause, you are not supposed to practice this Pranayama.

Surya Bhedana Pranayama

Surya Bhedana Pranayama is yet another breathing technique where you first close your left nostril with the help of ring finger of your right hand, inhale from the right nostril, then close the right nostril as well and count 10, open the left nostril and exhale from it very slowly. This process should be repeated for about 10 times initially and then it can be increased. It is very good for treating cold, if you are suffering from it for a long time.

Bhramari Pranayama

Bhramari pranayama is very useful in opening sinuses and also drains the phlegm present in the forehead. It reduces dark circles too. Bhramari pranayama is done by humming like a bee with closed mouth. The thumb of both the hands should be used to close the ears, index finger should be kept on the forehead and the rest of the three fingers should be used to close the eyes. Check the image of Baba Ramdev performing Bhramari pranayama. It should be kept in mind that the three fingers do not touch the eyes.

Setubandhasana / Bridge pose

Setubandhasana helps in opening up the chest and activates the thymus glands that help in improving the immunity and protects from cough and cold. In this posture, you lie down on your back and fold your legs. Catch your heel with both the hands. Now, while exhaling and with the help of the arms, lift your body up and take deep breaths for 4-5 times, then come down. Repeat this pose for about 5 times.

Do these exercises daily for at least half an hour and you will find a lot of relief from your cold and cough.

Have a happy winter :)